July 29, 2013

The Saudi Gazette takes note of MERS (and black magic)

Saudi and British scientists provided the most detailed picture yet of the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, revealing a wide range of clinical symptoms and an extremely high death rate among patients with co-existing medical conditions.

The new research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, also reveals some important differences with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

MERS emerged a year ago in Saudi Arabia and almost all those infected have been reported there, or have been linked to people who contracted the virus there.

The new analysis, the largest case series to date, includes 47 cases (46 adults, 1 child) of confirmed MERS infections from Saudi Arabia between Sept 1, 2012, and June 15, 2013.

By combining clinical records, laboratory results, and imaging findings with demographic data, the authors noted a trend of older patients, more men, and patients with underlying medical conditions who succumb to the disease.

Elsewhere in the same issue, we learn that the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has arrested four Sudanese expatriates, caught "red-handed" practicing black magic.

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Saudi and British scientists provided the most detailed picture yet of the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, revealing a wide range of clinical symptoms and an extremely high death rate among patients with co-existing medical conditions.

The new research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, also reveals some important differences with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

MERS emerged a year ago in Saudi Arabia and almost all those infected have been reported there, or have been linked to people who contracted the virus there.

The new analysis, the largest case series to date, includes 47 cases (46 adults, 1 child) of confirmed MERS infections from Saudi Arabia between Sept 1, 2012, and June 15, 2013.

By combining clinical records, laboratory results, and imaging findings with demographic data, the authors noted a trend of older patients, more men, and patients with underlying medical conditions who succumb to the disease.

Elsewhere in the same issue, we learn that the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has arrested four Sudanese expatriates, caught "red-handed" practicing black magic.